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A Syrian fighter pilot shot down by rebels has a simple explanation for why he and other pilots have had no qualms about bombing civilian targets: He swears they didn't know civilians were present. The imprisoned Roni Ibrahim, who got shot down outside al-Bab, tells Al Jazeera that the government of Bashar al-Assad has kept the pilots in the dark.

“They told us there were armed terrorists there, and al-Bab was empty of civilians,” he says in the video. “Our commanders told us this, and we can’t see anything on the ground, and we don’t go outside the airbase.” A convenient lie to save his scalp? Impossible to say, but it might be part of the reason why the killing of civilians continues after more than a year, notes the Washington Post. (Read more Syria stories.)

Terrorists Killed in Homs, Idleb.... Terrorist Bombing Foiled in Idleb PROVINCES, (SANA) - A unit of the Armed Forces on Friday destroyed a water tank truck loaded with two tons of explosives near Seajar town on Salqeen-Idleb road. A source in the province told SANA reporter that a suicide terrorist was driving the truck, adding that the vehicle was destroyed 200 meters before Seajar town. The source added that another army unit destroyed a Mortar launcher used by terrorists to target citizens and their properties near Salqeen city and killed its crew. Two Terrorists, One of Lebanese Nationality, Killed in Homs A unit of the Armed Forces on Friday killed terrorists Mahmoud Sharif Abu Zaid and Ayman Ahmad al-Atrash of the Lebanese nationality in Jousiyeh area in the countryside of al-Qseir in Homs. Russian Foreign Ministry: US State Department Should Stop Giving Advice to Russia on Syria and Stop Funding Syrian Opposition Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich stressed on Thursday that the US State Department should stop giving advice to Russia concerning Syria and stop funding 'the Syrian opposition'. During his weekly press conference in Moscow, Lukashevich said that Russia is observing the evaluations presented during the US State Department's official press conferences, particularly the evaluation of the Russian policy and the expressions of aspirations to change its course. He added that Russia has its point of view on what Washington should do, pointing out that Russia wants the US to use its relations with the 'Syrian opposition' instead of offering financial and logistic aid. He described the provision of the armed terrorist groups with MANPADs as 'a very dangerous move'. The US should encourage the opposition for a political settlement and get involved in a wide Syrian-Syrian dialogue, he said. He pointed out that the attempts of some states to take the Syrian issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to other international organizations are attempts of failure because they lack legal rules. Lukashevich asserted that the UN Security Council is the regulating side to solve the crisis in Syria and to make decisions on this issue. Deputy Russian FM: Need for Solving Situation by Syrians, International Community Should Support Brahimi Deputy Russian Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko, stressed his country's firm stance about the necessity of solving the situation by the Syrians' efforts without any foreign interference. In a speech before Council of the Russian Federation at presence of a delegation from NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), Grushko said that Russia works its best for helping to start a political dialogue and halt violence in Syria, yet Russia's partners should also exert all efforts possible to push the Syrian opposition to start dialogue with the authority. He added that the main task of the international community is restricted to implementing the plan of the former UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan and Geneva statement, in addition to providing support to the current UN Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi's mission. Grushko expressed worry over terrorist s ' infiltration and weapon trafficking into Syria, pointing out that the fragmentation of the opposition constitutes an obstacle on the way of solving the crisis in Syria. He added that this opposition is unable to unite its ranks or form a political power which could be dialogued with. Ordjonikidze: No Alternative to Political Solution in Syria Former United Nations Deputy Secretary General Sergei Ordjonikidze stressed that there is no alternative to political solution in Syria in accordance to accredited references, especially Geneva statement, adding that the Western's elusion, particularly the US, from the statement is considered a dangerous precedent in the international relations and a big collapse of the American diplomacy. Interviewed by Russia Today TV Channel, Ordjonikidze said that "We are waiting the plan and work mechanism to be set up by the UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, adding that if Brahimi did not receive full support from all the Security Council members, he will not reach the anticipated result. He stressed that Geneva statement is the key to reach solution and some countries' attempts to hinder it complicated the crisis in Syria. Ordjonikidze said that Russia presented several proposals for immediate halt of violence, return to centering points and preparation for next elections which are clear points and need no internationalization. "To achieve the aforementioned points, it is a must to provide all appropriate conditions, particularly stopping foreign intervention in Syria's affairs, mainly Turkey, and preventing arms smuggling operations to the opposition groups, not to mention the funding of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to these groups," he added. He considered the West as direct sponsor for terrorism, adding that the U.S. gave USD 40 million to the opposition to purchase weapons despite their allegations about providing humanitarian aid and communication devices to them. Ordjonikidze said that the unilateral sanctions imposed against the Syrian people affect them negatively and they cannot be a way to solve problems, regretting that the West is not interested in the rights of other peoples, rather it cares about its own interests. He added that the best solution to the crisis in Syria is simple and depends on immediately halting the violence and sitting around the dialogue table to find a joint solution without foreign dictates. Charge D' Affaires of South African Embassy in India Reiterates Rejection of Foreign Interference in Syria's Affairs NEW DELHI, (SANA) - Charge D' Affaires of South Africa's Embassy in India M Balatseng on Friday reiterated her country's support to Syria and rejection of foreign interference in its internal affairs. Balatseng's remarks came during a meeting with a student delegation of the National Union of Syrian Students, India branch, in New Delhi. Balatseng said that the people and government of South Africa know the reality of the events in Syria, stressing that the political solution is the sole way to end the crisis in Syria. She hailed the role played by the students and intellectuals in defending and protecting their countries against any challenge, expressing hope that Syria will overcome these challenges. For their part, representatives of the delegation expressed thanks to South Africa's people and government for their stances regarding the situation in Syria. The delegation briefed Balatseng on the events in Syria and the suffering of the Syrian people from the crimes of the armed terrorist groups, condemning the role of some regional countries, like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in proving support for these terrorist groups and encouraging them to commit terrorist acts against Syria. In turn, the Political counselor of South Africa's Higher Commission in New Delhi, Mark Reynhardt, denounced the media distortion of the events in Syria, adding that the public opinion doesn't understand the reality of the events in Syria because of this media falsification and fabrication.

JT119

Oct 19, 2012 9:25 AM CDT

I love to see a soldier well put together in his uniform and wanted to be onE when I was a little boy, but it dawned on me from early that you have to do shit that you are not in agreement with, I dont mean little shit ,BIG SHIT and chalk it up to The sams thing klaus barbi said and this guy is saying, "I WAS ONLY FOLLOWING ORDERS"